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Typing centres turn 
down ID applicants

DUBAI — Many typing centres have started turning down applicants of national ID cards as they are not able to cope with the large number of people queueing up from early morning for registering before the December 31 deadline.

Many typing centres have put up notices saying ‘Emirates ID not available’, forcing people to urge the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) to extend the deadline.

“We had to put up a notice because there are hundreds of pending applications and we cannot take any new applications without completing the existing forms,” said Aboobacker who owns a typing centre in Karama.

“More than 150 people come here everyday but we are already over our capacity and there is not enough staff to process these applications,” added Aboobacker.

Confusion and chaos continued at typing centres as residents complained about their inability to register in time, which they fear would bring a penalty. “I have been going from one typing centre to another but no one is willing to process the application as they already have a lot of pending applications,” said Mohammed Baksh, a Pakistani national.“It is not easy for me to leave my office and look for a typing centre that will accept my documents. There should be a centralised system where we have updated information about the typing centres that can process our request,” added Mohammed who was trying to get the registration form filled for his family.

Khaleej Times surveyed the situation in Karama where nine typing centres are approved by the EIDA to process the registration forms. Of these nine centres, only two were accepting applications.

Several people queued outside the Softline Typing Centre in Karama, which was still accepting applications for the ID card. A representative from the typing centre said that the centre was taking more than 200 new applications everyday.

“We are trying our best to meet the demand for ID card applications but we are still sending back hundreds of applicants as we cannot process their forms,” said Zakariya, Manager, Softline Typing Centre.

Every morning at 8am, the centre issues 200 tokens to people waiting outside the shop. The long queue winds down the alley and turns into the corner shops as people wait for their turn endlessly.

“I have been here since morning and it is a long wait for all of us. There is no other option for people but to wait. I hope the authorities will extend the deadline,” said Raja Khan who was waiting for his turn to register at the typing centre.

• UAE